Liquid container

ABSTRACT

A liquid container includes a container member including two layers of sheets at least, a spout and an elastic body provided on the container member. The two layers of sheets are flexible and disposed opposite one another. The container member has a sealed space. The elastic body is capable of elastic recovery from a first state in which the elastic body is extended along a direction of an axial line of the spout to a second state in which the elastic body is in a coiled shape as seen in an intersecting direction, which intersects the direction of the axial line and which is generally parallel to the two layers of sheets. A width of the elastic body on a virtual straight line is less than a width of the sealed space on the virtual straight line, which extends in the intersecting direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2013-101523, filed May 13, 2013, the content of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a liquid container that is configuredto contain a liquid in its interior.

An inkjet printer (hereinafter simply called the printer) that isconfigured to inject ink from a print head is known, as a liquidinjection device that is configured to inject a liquid from an injectornozzle. The printer is configured such that an ink container forsupplying the ink to the print head can be mounted and removed.Generally, the ink container includes a flexible container member thatcontains the ink in its interior and a spout for extracting the ink, thespout being connected to the container member. The container member cancontain the ink within a scaled space that is formed in its interior bybending of the container member.

For example, an ink bag is known on which an urging member is mounted.The urging member may collect the remaining ink towards the spout byrolling up the ink bag as the ink is consumed.

SUMMARY

The urging member is mounted on the container member of the ink bag thatis described above. In a case where the urging member is mounted on thecontainer member, deformation of a sheet from which the container memberis formed can be restricted, depending on the size of the urging memberin relation to the surface on which the urging member is mounted and onthe area where the urging member is mounted. In a case where thedeformation is restricted, it may become difficult to form the sealedspace for containing the ink in the interior of the container member.Consequently, there is a possibility that the ink bag will not be ableto contain a sufficient amount of the ink.

Various embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide aliquid container that is capable of containing a sufficient amount ofliquid and that is capable of collecting the remaining liquid towards aspout, even in a case where the amount of the remaining liquid withinthe container member is small.

Various embodiments herein provide a liquid container that includes acontainer member, a spout, and an elastic body. The container memberincludes two layers of sheets at least. The two layers of sheets areflexible and disposed opposite one another. The container member has ascaled space sealed in a portion sandwiched between the two layers ofsheets. The spout has a hollow portion communicatively connected to thesealed space. The elastic body is provided on the container member. Theelastic body is capable of elastic recovery from a first state in whichthe elastic body is extended along a direction of an axial line of thespout to a second state in which the elastic body is in a coiled shapeas seen in an intersecting direction. The intersecting directionintersects the direction of the axial line and is generally parallel tothe two layers of sheets. A width of the elastic body on a virtualstraight line is less than a width of the sealed space on the virtualstraight line. The virtual straight line extends in the intersectingdirection.

Various embodiments also provide a liquid container that includes acontainer member, a joined portion, a spout, and an elastic body. Thecontainer member includes two layers of sheets at least. The two layersof sheets are flexible and disposed opposite one another. The containermember has a sealed space sealed in a portion sandwiched between the twolayers of sheets. The joined portion is a portion where the two layersof sheets are joined to one another. The spout has a hollow portioncommunicatively connected to the scaled space. The elastic body isprovided on the container member. The elastic body is capable of elasticrecovery from a first state in which the elastic body is extended alonga direction of an axial line of the spout to a second state in which theelastic body is in a coiled shape as seen in an intersecting direction.The intersecting direction intersects the direction of the axial lineand is generally parallel to the two layers of sheets. The elastic bodyis provided in a part of the joined portion extending along thedirection of the axial line.

Various embodiments further provide a liquid container that includes acontainer member, a spout, and a pouch portion. The container memberincludes two layers of sheets at least. The two layers of sheets areflexible and disposed opposite one another. The container member has ascaled space scaled in a portion sandwiched between the two layers ofsheets. The spout has a hollow portion communicatively connected to thescaled space. The pouch portion is provided on the container member. Thepouch portion is in a shape of a pouch and extends along a direction ofan axial line of the spout. A width of the pouch portion on a virtualstraight line is less than a width of the sealed space on the virtualstraight line. The virtual straight line extends in an intersectingdirection. The intersecting direction intersects the direction of theaxial line and is generally parallel to the two layers of sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an overall configuration of an inkjetprinter;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an extended ink bag;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the extended ink bag;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen from the direction of arrows on aline IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ink bag in a coiled state;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the ink bag in the coiled state;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a spout;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen from the direction of the arrows on aline IV-IV in FIG. 2 in a modified example;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an extended ink bag; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the ink bag placed on a horizontal surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be explained with reference to thedrawings. Specifically, embodiments of an ink bag that may be used in aninkjet printer 100 that is configured to perform printing on a clothsuch as a T-shirt or the like will be explained.

First Embodiment

The inkjet printer 100 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. Theinkjet printer 100 is a known printer that is capable of performingprinting by a print head 114 on a cloth that is a printing medium, usingink that is supplied from an ink bag 1. Thus the configuration of theinkjet printer 100 will be explained briefly. Note that the up-downdirection, the left-right direction, and the lower left direction inFIG. 1 respectively correspond to the up-down direction, the left-rightdirection, and the front side of the inkjet printer 100 and to theup-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front side of theink bag 1.

The inkjet printer 100 has a rectangular box-shaped housing 101. In alower part of the interior of the housing 101, a pair of guide rails 102extend in the front-rear direction in an area that is approximately inthe center of the left-right direction of the housing 101. A platensupport base 103 is supported by the guide rails 102 such that it canmove along the guide rails 102 in the front-rear direction. Areplaceable platen 104 is affixed to the platen support base 103 in aposition that is approximately in the center of the left-right directionof the top face of the platen support base 103. The platen 104 is aplate body that is generally pentagonal in a plan view. A cloth such asa T-shirt or the like, for example may be placed on the top face of theplaten 104. The platen support base 103 to which the platen 104 may beaffixed is moved along the guide rails 102 in the front-rear directionby a platen moving mechanism that includes a platen drive motor and abelt transmission mechanism, although this is not shown in detail in thedrawings.

A pair of guide rails 112 extend in the left-right direction above theplaten 104 and approximately in the center of the front-rear directionof the housing 101. A carriage 113 is supported by the guide rails 112such that it can move along the guide rails 112 in the left-rightdirection. The print head 114 is affixed to the bottom of the carriage113. The carriage 113 on which the print head 114 is provided may bemoved along the guide rails 112 in the left-right direction by acarriage moving mechanism that includes a carriage drive motor and abelt transmission mechanism, although this is not shown in detail in thedrawings. The ink may be supplied to the print head 114 from the ink bag1, which is set in an ink bag mounting portion (not shown in thedrawings) that is provided inside the housing 101. A plurality of tinynozzles are provided on the bottom face of the print head 114. Theprinting may be performed on the cloth that has been placed on theplaten 104 by driving piezoelectric elements to cause ink droplets to bedischarged downward from the nozzles.

A plurality of the ink bags 1 can be set in the ink bag mounting portioninside the housing 101. A plurality of openings 120, through which trays(not shown in the drawings) can be respectively inserted and removed,are provided in the lower right part of the front face of the housing101. The ink bag 1 may be placed on the tray, which is pulled out fromthe openings 120. When the tray onto which the ink bag 1 is placed ispushed into the housing 101, a hollow needle for drawing the ink out ofthe ink bag 1 pierces a rubber plug of the ink bag 1. The ink bag 1 canbe set in the ink bag mounting portion in this manner.

The ink bag 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. As shownin FIG. 2, the ink bag 1 includes a container member 13, a spout 14, andelastic bodies 15A and 15B. Hereinafter, the elastic bodies 15A and 15Bwill be collectively called elastic bodies 15, and any one of theelastic bodies 15A and 15B will be called an elastic body 15. The spout14 and the elastic bodies 15 are provided on the container member 13. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container member 13 is a bag-shapedcontainer that is formed by superposing two flexible, rectangular,plastic sheets 130A and 130B such that one face of one of the sheets isopposite one face of the other sheet, then thermally welding (heatsealing) the peripheral edges of the sheets. Hereinafter, the sheets130A and 130B will be collectively called sheets 130, and any one of thesheets 130 A and 130B will be called a sheet 130. Each of the thermallywelded portions of the sheets 130 will be called a joined portion 136.The ink may be contained inside a sealed space 137 that is sandwichedbetween the sheets 130 and surrounded by the joined portions 136. Asshown in FIG. 2, the sealed space 137 is generally rectangular as seenin a direction that is generally orthogonal to the surfaces of thesheets 130, that is, generally orthogonal to the portion of thecontainer member 13 with the greatest surface area (the largest surfaceamong the surfaces that are shown in FIG. 2). When a large amount of theink that is contained in the sealed space 137 is remaining, the sheets130A and 130B are curved in directions in which the sheets 130A and 130Bare separated from one another, as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand,when the amount of the remaining ink is small, the sheets 130A and 130Bmay bend in the direction in which the distance between the sheets 130Aand 130B narrows and the sheets 130A and 130B come into contact with oneanother.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spout 14 includes a main body portion 141. Themain body portion 141 has a hollow portion 140 (refer to FIG. 7), whichwill be described later, in its interior. The spout 14 is provided onthe container member 13 in a state in which an axial line X of thehollow portion 140 is generally parallel to the direction in the longdimension of the container member 13. The spout 14 is positioned in acentral portion of the container member 13 in a direction that isorthogonal to the axial line X and generally parallel to the surfaces ofthe sheets 130, that is, in a direction in the short dimension of thecontainer member 13. As the sheets 130 are flexible, the sheets 130 maycurve in accordance with the remaining amount of the ink that iscontained in the sealed space 137. In other words, the sheets 130 arenot fixed flat surfaces. Accordingly, the expression “generally parallelto the surfaces of the sheets 130” refers not only to a strictlyparallel relationship between the two flat surfaces, but also to anearly parallel state in which curvature of the sheets 130 is allowed.

Hereinafter, the direction that is parallel to the axial line X will becalled an X axis direction. The direction that is orthogonal to the Xaxis direction and generally parallel to the surfaces of the sheets 130will be called a Y axis direction. The edges of the container member 13that are opposite one another in the Y axis direction, that is, theedges of the container member 13 that extend in the X axis direction,parallel to the axial line X, will be called a first edge 131 and asecond edge 132. Of the two edges of the container member 13 that areopposite one another in the X axis direction, that is, the edges of thecontainer member 13 that extend in the Y axis direction, the edge wherethe spout 14 is provided will be called a third edge 133, and theopposite edge will be called a fourth edge 134. The joined portions 136of the sheets 130 that are provided on the first edge 131, the secondedge 132, the third edge 133, and the fourth edge 134 will respectivelybe called a first joined portion 136A, a second joined portion 136B, athird joined portion 136C, and a fourth joined portion 136D.

The joined portions 136 will be explained in detail. The widths of thefirst joined portion 136A and the second joined portion 136B in the Yaxis direction are constant over the entire lengths of the first joinedportion 136A and the second joined portion 136B in the X axis direction.The widths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joinedportion 136B in the Y axis direction are both less than the width of thesealed space 137 in the Y axis direction. The elastic body 15A, whichwill be described later, is provided in the first joined portion 136A.The elastic body 15B, which will be described later, is provided in thesecond joined portion 136B. The widths of the third joined portion 136Cand the fourth joined portion 136D in the X axis direction are constantover the entire lengths of the third joined portion 136C and the fourthjoined portion 136D in the Y axis direction. The width of the thirdjoined portion 136C in the X axis direction is greater than the width ofthe fourth joined portion 136D in the X axis direction and less than thelength of the scaled space 137 in the X axis direction.

The elastic body 15 will be explained in detail. In the presentembodiment, the elastic body 15 is a flat spring made of metal that iscapable of elastic recovery from an extended state to a coiled state inwhich the elastic body 150 is curved in a coiled shape. When the elasticbodies 15 are extended, the container member 13 is also extended, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the elastic bodies 15 are curved into thecoiled state, the container member 13 is also curved into a coiledstate, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic body15B is sandwiched between the sheets 130A and 130B and is welded into asingle unit with the second joined portion 136B. The elastic body 15A isalso sandwiched between the sheets 130A and 130B and is welded into asingle unit with the first joined portion 136A, although this is notshown in the drawings. The elastic bodies 15 are fixed to the containermember 13 such that the elastic bodies 15 will not come out of thecontainer member 13. The surfaces of the second joined portion 136Bproject slightly outward in the area where the elastic body ISB isprovided.

The state in which the elastic bodies 15 are extended will be explainedwith reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the state in which the elasticbodies 15 are extended in the X axis direction. The shapes of theelastic bodies 15 when seen from the surfaces of the sheets 130 aregenerally rectangular, with their long dimension extending in the X axisdirection. The lengths of the elastic bodies 15 in the X axis directionare approximately the same as the length of the container member 13 inthe X axis direction. The elastic bodies 15 extend over the entiredistance between the third edge 133 and the fourth edge 134 of thecontainer member 13. The elastic body 15A is disposed in a centralportion of the first joined portion 136A in the Y axis direction. Theelastic body 15B is disposed in a central portion of the second joinedportion 136B in the Y axis direction. The widths of the elastic bodies15A and 15B in the Y axis direction are approximately one-third of therespective widths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joinedportion 136B in the Y axis direction. Therefore, the width of theelastic body 15A on a virtual straight line Y, which is defined as avirtual straight line that extends in the Y axis direction, is shorterthan the width of the first joined portion 136A on the virtual straightline Y. The width of the elastic body 15B on the virtual straight line Yis shorter than the width of the second joined portion 136B on thevirtual straight line Y.

This will now be explained in greater detail. The distance betweenintersection points 161 and 162, where the virtual straight line Yintersects the edges of the elastic body 15A in the Y axis direction, isshorter than the distance between intersection points 163 and 164, wherethe virtual straight line Y intersects the edges of the first joinedportion 136A in the Y axis direction. Furthermore, the distance betweenintersection points 165 and 166, where the virtual straight line Yintersects the edges of the elastic body 15B in the Y axis direction, isshorter than the distance between intersection points 167 and 168, wherethe virtual straight line Y intersects the edges of the second joinedportion 136B in the Y axis direction.

As explained above, the widths of the first joined portion 136A and thesecond joined portion 136B in the Y axis direction are each less thanthe width of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction. Therefore,the widths of the elastic bodies 15A and 15B on the virtual straightline Y are each less than the width of the sealed space 137 on thevirtual straight line Y. This will now be explained in greater detail.The distance between intersection points 161 and 162, where the virtualstraight line Y intersects the edges of the elastic body 15A in the Yaxis direction, is shorter than the distance between intersection points164 and 167, where the virtual straight line Y intersects the edges ofthe sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction. In the same manner, thedistance between intersection points 165 and 166, where the virtualstraight line Y intersects the edges of the elastic body 15B in the Yaxis direction, is also shorter than the distance between intersectionpoints 164 and 167, where the virtual straight line Y intersects theedges of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction.

Note that in FIG. 2, only the one virtual straight line Y is explicitlyshown, and the relationships among the intersection points 161 to 168have been explained so far. In the present embodiment, however, therelationships described above hold true for a plurality of the virtualstraight lines Y, not shown in the drawings, that extend across theelastic bodies 15A and 15B, the first joined portion 136A, and thesecond joined portion 136B.

The state in which the elastic bodies 15 are curved in the coiled statewill be explained with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the shape of theelastic bodies 15 as seen in the Y axis direction is a coiled shape. Theelastic bodies 15 are provided in the vicinities of the edges (the firstedge 131 and the second edge 132) of the container member 13 in the Yaxis direction. For that reason, when the elastic bodies 15 take on thecoiled shape, the container member 13 takes on a coiled shape. The endsof the elastic bodies 15 that are in the vicinity of the fourth edge 134are positioned the closest to a center 169 of the coil. That is, theelastic bodies 15 are rolled from the fourth edge 134 toward the thirdedge 133, where the spout 14 is provided. The direction in which theelastic bodies 15 are rolled from the fourth edge 134 toward the thirdedge 133 is the counterclockwise direction as seen from the side wherethe elastic body 15B is provided. Therefore, the sheet 130B is disposedon the outermost side of the coil-shaped container member 13. Then,towards the inner side, the sheets 130 are disposed adjacent to oneanother in the order of the sheet 130A, the sheet 130B, the sheet 130A,and so on. When seen in the Y axis direction, the elastic bodies 15 forma curve that moves away from the center 169 as the curve is traced fromthe fourth edge 134 toward the third edge 133. Portions of the elasticbodies 15 that are disposed adjacent to one another in the radialdirection of the coil are in close contact with no gaps, with the sheets130A and 130B sandwiched between them. Therefore, the adjacentlydisposed sheets 130A and 130B are also in close contact to one another,and the sealed space 137 becomes smaller.

When the elastic bodies 15 are extended, the restoring force that actsto restore the elastic bodies 15 to the coiled shape acts along theentire length of the elastic bodies 15 in the direction from the sheet130B to the sheet 130A. The container member 13 is curved into thecoiled shape by the restoring force. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the portion ofthe container member 13 that is in the vicinity of the third edge 133 isnot curved into the coiled shape, but is extended. As shown in FIG. 6,in the portion of the container member 13 that is extended, the sheets130A and 130B are curved in directions in which the sheets 130A and 130Bare separated from one another, and so the sealed space 137 is slightlyformed.

The spout 14 will be explained in detail. As shown in FIG. 7, the spout14 is affixed to the container member 13 by inserting one end of themain body portion 141 between the sheets 130A and 130B and welding itinto a single unit with the third joined portion 136C. The shape of theone end of the main body portion 141 is a three-dimensional rectangularshape whose long dimension extends in the Y axis direction, and theshape of the other end on the opposite side of the main body portion 141is a circular cylindrical shape. Two flanges 147 are provided around thecircumference of the other end of the main body portion 141. The mainbody portion 141 has the hollow portion 140, whose cross sectional shapeis circular, in its interior. The hollow portion 140 extends from afirst opening 143 that communicatively connects to the scaled space 137in the container member 13 to a second opening 144 that is open to theoutside of the container member 13. The inside diameter of the hollowportion 140 on the second opening 144 side is larger than the insidediameter on the first opening 143 side. The rubber plug, which is notshown in the drawings, can be inserted into the end of the hollowportion 140 on the second opening 144 side.

The form in which the ink bag 1 is used will be explained. For example,the ink bag 1 may be supplied to a user in a state in which the ink iscontained in the sealed space 137. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheets 130Aand 130B are curved in the directions in which the sheets 130A and 130Bare separated from one another, and the scaled space 137 for containingthe ink is formed in the container member 13. In the ink bag 1, asdescribed previously, the elastic bodies 15A and 15B are respectivelyprovided in the first joined portion 136A and the second joined portion136B of the sheets 130. In contrast, the elastic bodies 15 are notprovided in the portions of the sheets 130 where the sealed space 137 isformed, that is, the portions of the sheets 130 that are enclosed by thejoined portions 136. Therefore, the flexibility of the sheets 130 can bemaintained in the portions of the sheets 130 where the sealed space 137is formed. The sheets 130A and 130B therefore may curve sufficiently toform the scaled space 137 that is sufficiently large. Therefore, asufficient amount of the ink can be contained in the container member13.

The force of gravity acting on the ink inside the sealed space 137 andpressure of the contained ink is generated in the direction that extendsthe sheets 130. As a result, the container member 13 tends to beextended. The force that extends the container member 13 acts on theelastic bodies 15. As described previously, the restoring force thatacts to restore the elastic bodies 15 to the coiled shape acts on theelastic bodies 15. The force of gravity acting on the ink and thepressure of the contained ink acts on the elastic bodies 15 against therestoring force of the elastic bodies 15. The greater the amount of inkthat is contained in the container member 13 becomes, the greaterbecomes the force of gravity acting on the ink and the pressure of thecontained ink. Consequently, the elastic bodies 15 are extended inaccordance with the greater amount of ink. When a sufficient amount ofthe ink is contained in the container member 13 for the force of gravityacting on the ink and the pressure of the contained ink to be greaterthan the restoring force of the elastic bodies 15, the elastic bodies 15are extended to their full lengths in their long dimension direction, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The container member 13 is thus extended in theX axis direction.

An example of a case in which the ink bag 1 is filled with ink will beexplained, starting from a state in which the ink bag 1 is not filledwith ink and the container member 13 is curved in the coiled shape bythe elastic bodies 15. As the ink is injected gradually into thecontainer member 13 through the spout 14, the ink accumulates graduallybetween the sheets 130, from the side of the third edge 133, which isclose to the spout 14, toward the fourth edge 134. The sheets 130A and130B gradually curve in the directions in which the sheets 130A and 130Bseparate from one another, starting from the third edge 133 side andmoving toward the fourth edge 134. Along this process, forces act oneach of the sheets 130A and 130B such that the sheets 130A and 130B aredeformed from the coiled state to the extended state. The forces thatact to deform the sheets 130 to the extended state are transmitted fromthe sheets 130 to the elastic bodies 15. Therefore, the elastic bodies15 ultimately enter a state in which the elastic bodies 15 are extendedalong their entire lengths in their long dimension direction, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. In the present embodiment, as the elastic bodies 15are provided in the joined portions 136, the elastic bodies 15 may notimpair the flexibility of the container member 13 that forms the sealedspace 137. Accordingly, the container member 13 can bend and deform inaccordance with the amount of the ink that is contained in the sealedspace 137, so a sufficient amount of the ink can be contained in thesealed space 137.

The ink bag 1, in which the container member 13 is extended by thepresence of the ink inside the sealed space 137, is placed on the tray(not shown in the drawings) in a state in which the sheet 130B facesdownward. The ink bag 1 is set in the ink bag mounting portion by thepushing of the tray into the housing 101 (refer to FIG. 1) of the inkjetprinter 100 (refer to FIG. 1). The hollow needle pierces a centralportion of the rubber plug that is inserted into the second opening 144of the spout 14. The hollow needle passes through the rubber plug, andthe tip of the hollow needle is positioned inside the hollow portion140. A hole through which the ink flows is provided in the tip of thehollow needle. The ink inside the scaled space 137 is supplied to theprint head 114 (refer to FIG. 1) through the hollow needle.

As the ink is supplied to the print head 114, the amount of the ink thatremains inside the container member 13 is gradually reduced, the weightof the ink gradually decreases, and the force of gravity acting on theink and the pressure of the contained ink gradually diminishes. As theforce that acts against the restoring force of the elastic bodies 15(the force of gravity acting on the ink and the pressure of thecontained ink) gradually diminishes, the elastic bodies 15 graduallycurve into the coiled shape, starting from the fourth edge 134. In theportions of the elastic bodies 15 that are curved into the coiled shape,the sheets 130A and 130B that are disposed adjacent to one another inthe radial direction of the coil are in close contact, and the sealedspace 137 becomes smaller. As the ink is supplied to the print head 114,the sealed space 137 gradually becomes smaller, starting from the fourthedge 134 side. Consequently, the ink that remains inside the sealedspace 137 is gradually collected toward the third edge 133. Then theelastic bodies 15 enter the state in which the elastic bodies 15 arecurved into the coiled shape, except for a portion on the third edge 133side, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When more of the ink is supplied to theprint head 114, the elastic bodies 15 are curved farther into the coiledshape. Ultimately, the elastic bodies 15 enter a state in which theelastic bodies 15 are curved into the coiled shape over their entirelengths in their long dimension direction. The sheets 130A and 130B arealmost entirely in close contact. Because the entire sealed space 137becomes smaller, the amount of the ink that remains inside the sealedspace 137 can be reduced.

As described previously, the restoring force acts on the elastic bodies15 of the ink bag 1 such that the shape of the ink bag 1 is restored tothe coiled shape as seen in the Y axis direction. However, in a state inwhich the ink is contained inside the sealed space 137 of the containermember 13 and the force of gravity acting on the ink and the pressure ofthe contained ink is greater than the restoring force of the elasticbodies 15, the container member 13 is extended in the direction of theaxial line of the spout 14, that is, in the X axis direction. When theamount of the ink that remains inside the sealed space 137 is graduallyreduced, and the restoring force of the elastic bodies 15 graduallybecomes greater than the force of gravity acting on the ink and thepressure of the contained ink, the elastic bodies 15 gradually deforms,such that the shapes of the elastic bodies 15 gradually approach thecoiled shape as seen in the Y axis direction. As the elastic bodies 15deform, the container member 13 also deforms, and the ink that remainsinside the scaled space 137 is collected toward the spout 14. Therefore,when the amount of the ink that remains inside the sealed space 137becomes smaller, the ink bag 1 is able to collect the remaining inktoward the spout 14. Furthermore, because the elastic body 15A isprovided in the first joined portion 136A and the elastic body 15B isprovided in the second joined portion 136B, the flexibility of theportions of the sheets 130 that form the scaled space 137 can bemaintained. The deformation of the sheets 130 due to the ink that iscontained in the sealed space 137 may not be inhibited by the elasticbodies 15. Because each of the sheets 130A and 130B deforms as each ofthe sheets 130 bends in accordance with the amount of the ink that iscontained, the sufficiently large sealed space 137 may be formed.Therefore, the ink bag 1 is able to contain a sufficient amount of theink inside the scaled space 137. Because the elastic bodies 15A and 15Bare respectively provided in the first joined portion 136A and thesecond joined portion 136B, which extend in the X axis direction, theink bag 1 may allow the container member 13 to easily deform into thecoiled shape.

The width of the elastic body 15A in the Y axis direction is shorterthan the width in the Y axis direction of the first joined portion 136Ain which the elastic body 15A is provided. The width of the elastic body15B in the Y axis direction is shorter than the width in the Y axisdirection of the second joined portion 136B in which the elastic body15B is provided. Thus, the elastic bodies 15 do not protrude from thefirst joined portion 136A and the second joined portion 136B into theportions of the sheets 130 that form the sealed space 137. Therefore theflexibility of the portions of the sheets 130A and 130B that form thesealed space 137 may not be impaired by the elastic bodies 15. The inkbag 1 can therefore contain a greater amount of the ink inside thesealed space 137.

In the ink bag 1, the joined portions 136 are provided on the peripheraledges of the respective sheets 130A and 130B. Thus, the ink bag 1 canform the scaled space 137 that contains the ink on the inner sides ofthe joined portions 136. Furthermore, because the elastic body 15A isprovided in the first joined portion 136A and the elastic body 15B isprovided in the second joined portion 136B on the peripheral edges ofthe sheets 130, the flexibility of the portions of the sheets 130 thatform the scaled space 137 is maintained in the portions of the sheets130 that are not the joined portions 136. Therefore, because each of thesheets 130 deforms as each sheet 130 bends in accordance with the amountof the ink that is contained, the sufficiently large sealed space 137can be formed. Therefore, the ink bag 1 is able to contain a sufficientamount of the ink inside the scaled space 137.

The elastic body 15A is sandwiched between the sheets 130A and 130B inthe first joined portion 136A and is welded into a single unit with thefirst joined portion 136A. The elastic body 15B is also sandwichedbetween the sheets 130A and 130B in the second joined portion 136B andis welded into a single unit with the second joined portion 136B. Inother words, the elastic bodies 15A and 15B are fixed in place such thatthe elastic bodies 15 do not come out of the container member 13.Therefore, the ink bag 1 can prevent the elastic bodies 15 from comingout of the container member 13. Furthermore, the widths of the elasticbodies 15 on the virtual straight line Y are less than the widths of thefirst joined portion 136A and the second joined portion 136B on thevirtual straight line Y, so the areas around the elastic bodies 15 canbe covered by the joined portions 136. Therefore, the elastic bodies 15can easily be fixed in place in the container member 13.

Hereinafter, examples of modifications that can be made to the ink bag 1in the first embodiment will be described. A liquid other than ink mayalso be contained in the container member 13 of the ink bag 1. The inkbag 1 may also be mounted and used in a device other than the inkjetprinter 100. The ink bag 1 may also be used alone, without being mountedin the inkjet printer 100 or any other device.

The shape of the sealed space 137 as seen in the direction that isgenerally orthogonal to the surfaces of the sheets 130 is not limited toa generally rectangular shape, and may also be another shape. Forexample, the shape of the sealed space 137 may also be polygonal otherthan rectangular, circular, or elliptical. The elastic bodies 15 are notlimited to flat springs and may also be other elastic members, such aswire springs with circular cross sections or the like. The shape of theelastic bodies 15 as seen in the direction that is generally orthogonalto the surfaces of the sheets 130 is not limited to a generallyrectangular shape, and may also be another shape.

The container member 13 may be any bag-shaped container that includesthe two layers of flexible sheets 130A and 130B that are disposedopposite one another, and in which a space that can contain the ink isformed between the sheets 130A and 130B. Accordingly, the containermember 13 may be a member in which the four sides of the sheets 130A and130B are each joined to a separate sheet that serves as a gusset, forexample. The container member 13 may be formed by folding a singlerectangular sheet into two layers, then joining the two layers along thethree open sides, for example. The method for joining the sheets is notlimited to welding, and another method, such as adhesion or the like,for example, may also be used.

One elastic body 15 may be provided in only one of the first joinedportion 136A and the second joined portion 136B. It is also acceptablefor the elastic bodies 15 not to be provided over the entire distancebetween the third edge 133 and the fourth edge 134. For example, theelastic bodies 15 may be shorter than the length of the container member13 in the X axis direction.

The width of the elastic body 15A on the virtual straight line Y may bethe same as the width of the first joined portion 136A on the virtualstraight line Y, for example. In the same manner, the width of theelastic body 15B on the virtual straight line Y may be the same as thewidth of the second joined portion 136B on the virtual straight line Y.The width of the elastic body 15A on the virtual straight line Y may begreater than the width of the first joined portion 136A on the virtualstraight line Y. In the same manner, the width of the elastic body 15Bon the virtual straight line Y may be greater than the width of thesecond joined portion 136B on the virtual straight line Y.

The relationship of the lengths of the first joined portion 136A and thesecond joined portion 136B in the X axis direction to the lengths of thethird joined portion 136C and the fourth joined portion 136D in the Yaxis direction is not limited to the example in the first embodiment.For example, the lengths of the third joined portion 136C and the fourthjoined portion 136D in the Y axis direction may be greater than thelengths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joined portion136B in the X axis direction. The widths of the elastic bodies 15A and15B, the first joined portion 136A, and the second joined portion 136Bon the virtual straight line Y may vary from one portion to another inthe X axis direction.

It is acceptable for the Y axis direction and the X axis direction notto be orthogonal to one another, as long as these directions intersectone another. The virtual straight line Y may be defined as a virtualstraight line that extends in the Y axis direction, that is, a virtualstraight line that extends in a direction that intersects the X axisdirection. Note that a case in which the direction that is orthogonal tothe X axis direction is defined as the Y axis direction, as it is in thefirst embodiment, is preferable, because that makes it possible for theink to be collected toward the spout 14 most efficiently by thedeformation of the elastic bodies 15 to the coiled shape. In a casewhere some of a plurality of the virtual straight lines Y are defined asvirtual straight lines Ya, the widths of the elastic bodies 15 on thevirtual straight lines Ya may be not less than the width of the scaledspace 137 on the virtual straight lines Ya, depending on the shapes ofthe elastic bodies 15.

The elastic body 15 may be a contact type of elastic member, in whichportions of the elastic body 15 that are adjacent to one another in theradial direction of the coil are in contact when the elastic body 15alone is rolled into the coiled shape. The elastic body 15 may also be anon-contact type of elastic member, in which portions of the elasticbody 15 that are adjacent to one another in the radial direction of thecoil are not in contact when the elastic body 15 alone is rolled intothe coiled shape. The respective elastic forces of the elastic bodies15A and 15B may be the same and may also be different.

For example, the portions of the sheets 130A and 130B that are disposedadjacent to one another in the radial direction of the coil may beseparated from one another when the elastic bodies 15 are deformed tothe coiled shape, instead of being in close contact. In that case, thesmall sealed space 137 is formed, and the ink remains in the sealedspace 137. However, because the sealed space 137 is made smaller due tothe deformation of the elastic bodies 15, the greater part of the inkcan be collected toward the spout 14.

When the elastic bodies 15 that are curved into the coiled shape areseen in the Y axis direction, the amount of the winding of the curvedline from the fourth edge 134 side toward the third edge 133 side may beless than one full revolution. In that case, the fourth edge 134 isseparated from the sheet 130A. Even in that case, as long as the elasticbodies 15 are curved even a little from the fourth edge 134 side towardthe third edge 133 side, the scaled space 137 becomes smaller to thatextent, so the ink within the sealed space 137 can be collected towardthe spout 14.

In the first embodiment, it is sufficient for the spout 14 to beprovided on the container member 13 such that the sealed space 137 iscontinuous with the outside through the hollow portion 140. The methodfor fixing the spout 14 is not limited to welding. Accordingly, thespout 14 may also be formed as a single unit with the container member13, for example.

In the first embodiment, it is also acceptable for the elastic bodies 15not to be provided. Instead, pouch-shaped pouch portions 138 that isconfigured to fix the elastic bodies 15 inside may be provided, as in anink bag 11 that is shown in FIG. 8. Hereinafter, the ink bag 11according to a modified example will be explained with reference to FIG.8. Note that, except for the pouch portions 138, the configuration ofthe ink bag 11 is the same as that of the ink bag 1 in the firstembodiment, so explanations will be omitted for the portions that arethe same.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ink bag 11 includes a pouch portion 138B in thesecond joined portion 136B. The pouch portion 138B is a pouch-shapedmember for containing the elastic body 15B. The pouch portion 138B isprovided in a central portion of the second joined portion 136B in the Yaxis direction, and extends in the X axis direction from the third edge133 to the fourth edge 134. The pouch portion 138B is formed in a spacethat is sandwiched between the sheets 130A and 130B. Both sides of thepouch portion 138B in the Y axis direction are sealed by the weldedportions of the sheets 130A and 130B. The ends of the pouch portion 138Bon the third edge 133 side and the fourth edge 134 side are open. Notethat the ink bag 11 also includes a pouch portion of the same shape asthe pouch portion 138B in the first joined portion 136A, although thisis not shown in the drawings. Hereinafter, the pouch portion 138B andthe pouch portion that is provided in the first joined portion 136A willbe collectively called pouch portions 138, and any one of these pouchportions will be called a pouch portion 138. The cross-sectional sizesof the pouch portions 138 are the substantially same as thecross-sectional sizes of the elastic bodies 15.

The shape of the pouch portion 138 as seen in a direction that isgenerally orthogonal to the surfaces of the sheets 130 is generallyrectangular, with its long dimension extending in the X axis direction,and the shape of the pouch portion 138 is substantially the same as theshape of the elastic body 15 in the first embodiment as seen from thesurfaces of the sheets 130. Therefore, the width of the pouch portion138B on the virtual straight line Y is less than the width of the secondjoined portion 136B on the virtual straight line Y. The width on thevirtual straight line Y of the pouch portion that is provided in thefirst joined portion 136A is also less than the width of the firstjoined portion 136A on the virtual straight line Y. Furthermore, thewidths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joined portion136B in the Y axis direction are less than the width of the scaled space137 in the Y axis direction, so the widths of the pouch portions 138 onthe virtual straight line Y are less than the width of the sealed space137 on the virtual straight line Y.

When the elastic bodies 15 are inserted into the pouch portions 138, thesheets 130A and 130B adhere closely to the elastic bodies 15, fixing theelastic bodies 15 in place inside the pouch portions 138. Thus theelastic bodies 15 do not readily come out of the container member 13.

The form in which the ink bag 11 in the modified example is used will beexplained. The ink bag 11 is supplied to the user in a state in whichthe ink is contained in the container member 13. The sheets 130A and130B are curved in the directions in which the sheets 130A and 130B areseparated from one another, and the sealed space 137 is formed. Thecontainer member 13 is extended in the X axis direction. The userinserts the elastic body 15B into the opening in the pouch portion 138Band inserts the elastic body 15A into the pouch portion that is providedin the first joined portion 136A and is not shown in the drawings.Before being inserted into the pouch portions 138, the elastic bodies15A and 15B are in the coiled shape. In contrast, when the elasticbodies 15A and 15B are inserted into the pouch portions 138, the forceof gravity acting on the ink that is contained inside the sealed space137 and the pressure of the contained ink acts in the direction thatextends the sheets 130. The container member 13 thus tends to beextended, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The force that extends thecontainer member 13 puts the elastic bodies 15A and 15B into theextended state over their entire lengths in their long dimensiondirection. Therefore, in the state in which the elastic bodies 15 arefixed in place in the pouch portions 138, the ink bag 11 can exhibit thesame sort of effects as the ink bag 1 in the first embodiment.

The pouch portions 138 are formed in spaces that are sandwiched betweenthe sheets 130A and 130B. Both sides of the pouch portions 138 in the Yaxis direction are sealed by the welded portions of the sheets 130A and130B. Therefore, when the sheets 130A and 130B are welded, not weldingparts of the portions where the first joined portion 136A and the secondjoined portion 136B are formed makes it possible to form the pouchportions 138 in the parts that are not welded, for example. The pouchportions 138 can thus be formed in the ink bag 11 at the same time thatthe sheets 130A and 130B are welded in the first joined portion 136A andthe second joined portion 136B. Therefore, the pouch portions 138 can beformed easily.

The width of the pouch portion 138B on the virtual straight line Y isless than the width of the second joined portion 136B on the virtualstraight line Y, and the width of the pouch portion that is provided inthe first joined portion 136A is less than the width of the first joinedportion 136A on the virtual straight line Y. Therefore, forming thepouch portions 138 in the spaces that are sandwiched between the sheets130A and 130B makes it possible for the elastic bodies 15 that areinserted into the pouch portions 138 to be covered from four sides bythe sheets 130A and 130B. The ink bag 11 can therefore easily fix theelastic bodies 15 in place in the container member 13.

Note that in the modified example, one pouch portion 138 may be providedin only one of the first joined portion 136A and the second joinedportion 136B. It is also acceptable for the pouch portions 138 not to beprovided over the entire distance between the third edge 133 and thefourth edge 134, and the pouch portions 138 may also be shorter than thelength of the container member 13 in the X axis direction, for example.

It is also acceptable not to form the pouch portions 138 in spaces thatare sandwiched between the sheets 130A and 130B. For example, the pouchportions 138 may be provided on one of the surfaces (the outer faces) ofthe sheets 130A and 130B, such that the pouch portions 138 arerespectively superposed on portions of the first joined portion 136A andthe second joined portion 136B. In that case, the width on the virtualstraight line Y of at least one of the pouch portions 138 may also bethe same as the width on the virtual straight line Y of at least one ofthe first joined portion 136A and the second joined portion 136B.Furthermore, the width on the virtual straight line Y of at least one ofthe pouch portions 138 may also be greater than the width on the virtualstraight line Y of at least one of the first joined portion 136A and thesecond joined portion 136B.

The pouch portion 138 may also be sealed on one of the third edge 133side and the fourth edge 134 side. It is also acceptable for both endsof the pouch portion 138 to be sealed, on both the third edge 133 sideand the fourth edge 134 side, and for an opening to be cut in a portionof the pouch portion 138. The elastic body 15 can then be inserted intothe pouch portions 138 through the opening.

Second Embodiment

An ink bag 3 in a second embodiment will be explained with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the ink bag 3 includes the containermember 13, the spout 14, and an elastic body 15F. The shape of the spout14 is identical to that in the first embodiment. The container member 13is also identical to that in the first embodiment, except for the factthat the widths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joinedportion 136B are less than in the first embodiment and the elasticbodies 15A and 15B are not provided in the first joined portion 136A andthe second joined portion 136B. Hereinafter, in the same manner as inthe first embodiment, the direction that is parallel to the axial line Xof the spout 14 will be called the X axis direction, and the directionthat is orthogonal to the X axis direction and generally parallel to thesurfaces of the sheets 130 will be called the Y axis direction. Theedges of the container member 13 that are opposite one another in the Xaxis direction and the Y axis direction will be called the first edge131, the second edge 132, the third edge 133, and the fourth edge 134,respectively.

The ink bag 3 has the elastic body 15F that is provided on the surfaceof the sheet 130A. In the same manner as the elastic bodies 15 in thefirst embodiment, the elastic body 15F is a flat spring that is capableof elastic recovery from an extended state to a coiled state in whichthe elastic body 15F is curved into a coiled shape. When the elasticbody 15F is extended, the container member 13 is also extended. When theelastic body 15F is curved into the coiled state, the container member13 is also curved into the coiled state. The elastic body 15F is affixedto the surface of the sheet 130A by an adhesive.

In the state in which the elastic body 15F is extended, the shape of theelastic body 15F when seen from the surfaces of the sheets 130 isgenerally rectangular, with its long dimension extending in the X axisdirection. The length of the elastic body 15F in the X axis direction isslightly less than the length of the container member 13 in the X axisdirection. The width of the elastic body 15F in the Y axis direction isless than the width of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction andgreater than the widths of the first joined portion 136A and the secondjoined portion 136B in the Y axis direction. Therefore, the width of theelastic body 15F on the virtual straight line Y is less than the widthof the sealed space 137 on the virtual straight line Y and greater thanthe widths of the first joined portion 136A and the second joinedportion 136B on the virtual straight line Y. This will now be explainedin greater detail. The distance between intersection points 181 and 182,where the virtual straight line Y intersects the edges of the elasticbody 15F in the Y axis direction, is shorter than the distance betweenintersection points 184 and 185, where the virtual straight line Yintersects the edges of the scaled space 137 in the Y axis direction.Furthermore, the distance between the intersection points 181 and 182,where the virtual straight line Y intersects the edges of the elasticbody 15F in the Y axis direction, is longer than the distance between anintersection point 183 and the intersection point 184, where the virtualstraight line Y intersects the edges of the first joined portion 136A inthe Y axis direction, and is longer than the distance between theintersection point 185 and an intersection point 186, where the virtualstraight line Y intersects the edges of the second joined portion 136Bin the Y axis direction.

The elastic body 15F is provided in a central portion of the sealedspace 137 in the Y axis direction. The definition of the central portionin the Y axis direction in the present embodiment will now be explained.As shown in FIG. 10, when the ink bag 3 in which the ink is containedinside the sealed space 137 of the container member 13 is placed on ahorizontal surface 5 in an orientation in which the sheet 130B isdisposed on the upper side and the sheet 130A is disposed on the lowerside, the sheets 130A and 130B are aligned in the up-down direction. Thesheets 130A and 130B are curved in the directions in which the sheets130A and 130B are separated from one another, and a portion of the sheet130A is in contact with the horizontal surface 5. Specifically, theportion of the sheet 130A that is in contact with the horizontal surface5 is the portion that is at least a specified distance S inward in the Yaxis direction from both the edge of the sealed space 137 that is closerto the first edge 131 and the edge of the sealed space 137 that iscloser to the second edge 132. Hereinafter, the portion of the sheet130A that comes into contact with the horizontal surface 5 in thismanner will be called the contact portion 139. It is sufficient for thecentral portion of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction to bedefined as the contact portion 139 of the sheet 130A that forms thesealed space 137. It is sufficient for the elastic body 15F to beprovided on the surface of the sheet 130A anywhere within the contactportion 139.

Because the form in which the ink bag 3 is used is almost the same asthat for the ink bag 1 in the first embodiment, an explanation will besimplified. As shown in FIG. 10, in the ink bag 3, the sealed space 137is formed in the container member 13 by the curving of the sheets 130Aand 130B in the directions in which the sheets 130A and 130B areseparated from one another, and the ink is contained in the sealed space137. Note that, as described above, the elastic body 15F is provided inthe central portion of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction. Thewidth of the elastic body 15F in the Y axis direction, however, is lessthan the width of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction.Therefore, the flexibility of the sheet 130A may be maintained in theportions of the sheet 130A on which the elastic body 15F is notprovided. The sheet 130A therefore may curves sufficiently to form thesealed space 137 that is sufficiently large, and so a sufficient amountof the ink can be contained in the container member 13.

Furthermore, when the ink bag 3 is mounted in the inkjet printer 100)(refer to FIG. 1) and the ink within the container member 13 is suppliedto the print head 114 (refer to FIG. 1), the elastic body 15F graduallycurves into a coiled shape, starting from the fourth edge 134 side. Theink that remains inside the scaled space 137 is gradually collectedtoward the third edge 133. In the second embodiment, the elastic body15F is provided in the central portion of the sealed space 137 in the Yaxis direction. Therefore, when the elastic body 15F is curved into thecoiled shape, the sheets 130A and 130B that are adjacently disposed inthe radial direction of the coil are in close contact with one another.It therefore becomes difficult to form the scaled space 137. Therefore,when the elastic body 15F is curved into the coiled shape along theentire length in its long dimension direction, the sealed space 137becomes smaller, and so the amount of the ink that remains inside thesealed space 137 can be reduced.

In the ink bag 3, the elastic body 15F is disposed in the contactportion 139, which is the central portion of the scaled space 137 in theY axis direction. Accordingly, the container member 13 deforms into thecoiled shape well when the elastic body 15F deforms into the coiledshape. The reasons for this will now be explained. Specifically, becausethe container member 13 is deformed into the coiled shape by the oneelastic body 15F, the direction in which the container member 13 curvesis not likely to become oblique in relation to the X axis direction, asit would in a case where the container member 13 is deformed into thecoiled shape by a plurality of elastic bodies, due to the differences inthe recovery forces of the plurality of the elastic bodies. Furthermore,the portions of the container member 13 that are disposed on both sidesof the elastic body 15F tend to deform uniformly into the coiled shapealong the X axis direction. The sheets 130A and 130B therefore tend tocome into close contact with one another. Therefore, when only a smallamount of the ink remains inside the container member 13, the ink bag 3is able to collect the remaining ink efficiently toward the spout 14.

Examples of modifications that can be made to the ink bag 3 in thesecond embodiment will be described. For example, it is acceptable forthe width of the elastic body 15F on the virtual straight line Y not tobe greater than the widths of the first joined portion 136A and thesecond joined portion 136B on the virtual straight line Y.

The position in which the elastic body 15F is provided on the sheet 130Amay be any position within the contact portion 139. For example, theposition where the elastic body 15F is provided may be precisely in thecenter in the Y axis direction of the sealed space 137, that is, aposition on a line that is equidistant from the edge of the sealed space137 that is closer to the first edge 131 and from the edge of the sealedspace 137 that is closer to the second edge 132. The position where theelastic body 15F is provided may also be closer to one of the first edge131 and the second edge 132 than is the line that is equidistant fromthese edges.

In the second embodiment, it is also acceptable for the elastic body 15Fnot to be provided. Instead, a pouch-shaped pouch portion that isconfigured to fix the elastic body 15F inside, may be provided on thesurface of the sheet 130A. For example, the pouch portion, which has thesame shape as the elastic body 15F in FIG. 9 when seen from the surfacesof the sheets 130, may be provided on the surface of the sheet 130A,instead of the elastic body 15F. The pouch portion may be formed bysuperposing a separate sheet onto the surface of the sheet 130A, forexample, then thermally welding the edges of the sheet to the surface ofthe sheet 130A such that a space into which the elastic body 15F can beinserted is left open. The pouch portion may be provided in the centralportion of the sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction, in the samemanner as the elastic body 15F. The central portion in the Y axisdirection may be defined as the contact portion 139 that is shown inFIG. 10. In that case, the pouch portion may be provided on the sheet130A approximately in the center of the sealed space 137 in the Y axisdirection. Therefore, in the ink bag of this modified example, theelastic body 15F can be fixed in place approximately in the center ofthe sealed space 137 in the Y axis direction by inserting the elasticbody 15F into the pouch portion. In the state in which the elastic body15F is fixed in place in the pouch portion, the ink bag of this modifiedexample can exhibit the same sort of effects as the ink bag 3 in thesecond embodiment.

The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the variousembodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they arenot confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features havebeen described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, variousalternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of thosefeatures and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, asset forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may bemade without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlyingprinciples.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid container, comprising: a containermember including two layers of sheets at least, the two layers of sheetsbeing flexible and disposed opposite one another, the container memberhaving a sealed space scaled in a portion sandwiched between the twolayers of sheets; a spout having a hollow portion communicativelyconnected to the sealed space; and an elastic body provided on thecontainer member, the elastic body being capable of elastic recoveryfrom a first state in which the elastic body is extended along adirection of an axial line of the spout to a second state in which theelastic body is in a coiled shape as seen in an intersecting direction,the intersecting direction intersecting the direction of the axial lineand being generally parallel to the two layers of sheets, a width of theelastic body on a virtual straight line being less than a width of thesealed space on the virtual straight line, the virtual straight lineextending in the intersecting direction.
 2. The liquid containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is provided on one of thetwo layers of sheets, in a central portion of the sealed space in theintersecting direction.
 3. The liquid container according to claim 1,wherein the elastic body is provided in a portion of one of the twolayers of sheets, the portion being configured to contact a horizontalsurface when a liquid is contained in the sealed space and the liquidcontainer is placed on the horizontal surface in an orientation in whichone of the two layers of sheets is disposed above the other.
 4. A liquidcontainer, comprising: a container member including two layers of sheetsat least, the two layers of sheets being flexible and disposed oppositeone another, the container member having a sealed space sealed in aportion sandwiched between the two layers of sheets; a joined portionwhere the two layers of sheets are joined to one another; a spout havinga hollow portion communicatively connected to the sealed space; and anelastic body provided on the container member, the elastic body beingcapable of elastic recovery from a first state in which the elastic bodyis extended along a direction of an axial line of the spout to a secondstate in which the elastic body is in a coiled shape as seen in anintersecting direction, the intersecting direction intersecting thedirection of the axial line and being generally parallel to the twolayers of sheets, the elastic body being provided in a part of thejoined portion extending along the direction of the axial line.
 5. Theliquid container according to claim 4, wherein a width of the elasticbody on a virtual straight line is less than a width of the scaled spaceon the virtual straight line, the virtual straight line extending in theintersecting direction.
 6. The liquid container according to claim 5,wherein the two layers of sheets are formed by two sheets disposedopposite one another, and wherein the joined portion is a portion whereperipheral edges of the two sheets are joined to one another.
 7. Theliquid container according to claim 6, wherein the elastic body issandwiched between the two sheets in the joined portion.
 8. The liquidcontainer according to claim 5, wherein a width of the elastic body onthe virtual straight line is less than a width of the joined portion, onthe virtual straight line, in which the elastic body is provided.
 9. Aliquid container, comprising: a container member including two layers ofsheets at least, the two layers of sheets being flexible and disposedopposite one another, the container member having a sealed space sealedin a portion sandwiched between the two layers of sheets; a spout havinga hollow portion communicatively connected to the sealed space; and apouch portion provided on the container member, the pouch portion beingin a shape of a pouch and extending along a direction of an axial lineof the spout, a width of the pouch portion on a virtual straight linebeing less than a width of the scaled space on the virtual straightline, the virtual straight line extending in an intersecting direction,the intersecting direction intersecting the direction of the axial lineand being generally parallel to the two layers of sheets.
 10. The liquidcontainer, according to claim 9, further comprising: a joined portionwhere the two layers of sheets are joined to one another, wherein thepouch portion is provided in a part of the joined portion extendingalong the direction of the axial line.
 11. The liquid containeraccording to claim 10, wherein the two layers of sheets are formed bytwo sheets disposed opposite one another, and wherein the joined portionis a portion where peripheral edges of the two sheets are joined to oneanother.
 12. The liquid container according to claim 11, wherein thepouch portion is formed in a portion sandwiched between the two sheetsin the joined portion.
 13. The liquid container according to claim 9,wherein the pouch portion is provided on one of the two layers ofsheets, in a central portion of the sealed space in the intersectingdirection.
 14. The liquid container according to claim 10, wherein awidth of the pouch portion on the virtual straight line is less than awidth of the joined portion, on the virtual straight line, in which thepouch portion is provided.
 15. The liquid container according to claim9, wherein the pouch portion is provided in a portion of one of the twolayers of sheets, the portion being configured to contact a horizontalsurface when a liquid is contained in the sealed space and the liquidcontainer is placed on the horizontal surface in an orientation in whichone of the two layers of sheets is disposed above the other.